Recording apparatus, reproduction apparatus and file management method

ABSTRACT

A recording apparatus, a reproduction apparatus and a file management method are disclosed wherein, even if one of files recorded on a recording medium cannot be reproduced regularly, another file selected by the user can be reproduced normally. A file having a hierarchical structure formed from video data and audio data both in the form of compressed data together with information necessary for processing of the video data and audio data is produced and recorded on a predetermined recording medium. Upon production of the file, information regarding decoding of the video data and audio data is disposed collectively on the top side of the file.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a recording apparatus, a reproductionapparatus and a file managing method and can be applied to processing ofmovie files recorded, for example, in the QuickTime format.

Conventionally, video and music contents are compressed by encoding, andthe compressed data are recorded on a recording medium. Then, datadecompression is performed for the compressed data by processing ofdecoding corresponding to the encoding to provide decompressed data tothe user.

Further, in the file format according to such video and music contents,for example, the QuickTime is applied. In the QuickTime, a filestructure and information regarding various files are defined by ahierarchical structure using Atom as a unit so that high extensionperformance can be assured.

In contrast, in a recording medium such as an optical disk for recordingfiles regarding such contents, management information relating to a filemanaging system such as a file name, extension, recording position andso forth is retained in a predetermined management region. Consequently,in a computer and so forth, files which can be selected by anapplication program are selectively displayed based on the extension inaccordance with the file managing system. Further, files desired by theuser are reproduced with reference to the recording position by the filemanaging system.

In recent years, recording and reproduction apparatus which utilize suchan optical disk as described above have exhibited a remarkable increaseof the capacity. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-84705(Patent Document 1) and No. 2002-278996 (Patent Document 2) disclose amethod wherein data is extracted from a great number of files recordedon a recording medium to produce an index file and then the index fileis utilized for selection of a file or the like. According to themethod, a great number of files recorded on a recording medium can bemanaged readily.

Incidentally, in recent years, recording and reproduction apparatus suchas a video recorder which uses an optical disk as a recording mediumhave been proposed. There is the possibility that, into such recordingand reproduction apparatus, an optical disk used in a computer may beused. In this instance, there is the possibility that a file which isdifficult to process may be recorded on the optical disk.

In this instance, a recording and reproduction apparatus of the typedescribed may possibly use a method wherein a file formed in a fileformat which is difficult to process is excluded from a processingobject with reference to the extension using management informationrelating to the file managing system. Further, in regard to exclusion ofsuch a file as described above from a processing object, it isconsidered that there is a method wherein a user interface is providedsuch that such a file as described above-cannot be found by the user sothat an interface similar to that of a conventional video camera or thelike which utilizes a magnetic tape can be provided.

However, while a file recorded by a computer in this manner has a formatwhich can be processed in the discrimination of a format based on theextension, actually a case sometimes occurs wherein the file cannot beprocessed normally.

In particular, even if a codec for encoding contents is ready for aformat which can be processed in consumer appliances, a case may occurwherein a file cannot be processed normally depending upon conditionsupon encoding. Further, also a case may occur wherein a file cannot beprocessed normally depending upon a difference in performance betweenapparatus. In particular, a file cannot be processed at all or areproduction image may temporarily freeze or temporarily miss.

Such situations as described above may occur also when an optical diskon which contents are recorded is reproduced by a consumer appliance ofa similar type but having a different capacity.

In this instance, while the user believes that the optical disk can bereproduced and therefore issues an instruction for reproduction of theoptical disk, the user does not find an error until the optical disk isactually reproduced. In this instance, remarkable displeasure is givento the user, and in an extreme case, the error causes the user to doubtfailure of the apparatus. Further, in this instance, the user is urgedto select a desired file once more, and also this gives displeasure tothe user.

Particularly, since the format of the QuickTime has a highextendibility, there is the possibility that such situations asdescribed above may frequently occur. Further, with regard to, forexample, a storage system of data, the QuickTime includes an externalreference type wherein an external file is referred to and a selfinclusion type wherein data is stored into a file. Therefore, forexample, where a recording and reproduction apparatus of the typedescribed is not ready for the external reference type, a file of theexternal reference type cannot be processed at all.

It is to be noted that different computers naturally have differentprocessing capacities from each other. Further, an application programis installed as occasion demands and besides is frequently subject toversion up. Therefore, in the computer, the situations described aboveare permissible. However, in the recording and reproduction apparatusdescribed above, the situations described above cannot be permitted atall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recordingapparatus, a reproduction apparatus and a file management methodwherein, even if one of files recorded on a recording medium cannot bereproduced normally, another file selected by the user can be reproducednormally.

In order to attain the object described above, according to the presentinvention, files are partially reproduced to acquire informationregarding decoding thereof, and whether or not each of the files can bedecoded normally is discriminated based on the information and then atable of the files is displayed based on the discrimination. Therefore,even if one of files recorded on a recording medium is difficult toprocess normally, another one of the files selected by the user can beprocessed normally.

In particular, according to an aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a recording apparatus, including a file production element forproducing a file having a hierarchical structure formed from video dataand audio data both in the form of compressed data together withinformation necessary for processing of the video data and audio data,and a recording element for recording the file produced by the fileproduction element on a predetermined recording medium, the fileproduction element disposing information regarding decoding of the videodata and audio data collectively on the top side of the file uponproduction of the file.

With the recording apparatus, upon formation of a file, at leastinformation regarding decoding of video data and audio data iscollectively disposed on the top side of the file. Consequently, theinformation regarding decoding can be partially reproduced todiscriminate whether or not the file can be decoded normally. Therefore,it is possible to allow selection only of those files which can bedecoded from among different files. Since only those files which can bedecoded normally are presented for selection in this manner, even whereone of files recorded on a recording medium is difficult to reproducenormally, another one of the files selected by the user can bereproduced normally.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda reproduction apparatus, including a reproduction element forreproducing a file recorded on a predetermined recording medium, a fileprocessing element for separating video data and audio data from thefile reproduced by the reproduction element, and a decoding element fordecoding the video data and audio data, the reproduction elementpartially reproducing files recorded on the recording medium to acquireinformation regarding decoding element set in the files, the fileprocessing element discriminating whether or not each of the files canbe decoded normally based on the information regarding the decodingelement, the file production element displaying the files recorded onthe recording medium in a table such that only those files which can bedecoded normally can be selected.

With the reproduction apparatus, files recorded on a recording mediumare partially reproduced to acquire information regarding decodingelement set to the files, and it is discriminated based on theinformation regarding decoding element whether or not the files can bereproduced normally. Then, the files recorded on the recording mediumarea displayed in a table such that only those files which can bedecoded normally can be selected. Consequently, even where one of thefiles recorded on the recording medium is difficult to reproducenormally, another one of the files selected by the user can bereproduced normally.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a file managing method for managing files recorded on arecording medium, including the steps of partially reproducing the filesrecorded on the recording medium to acquire information regardingdecoding of the files set in the files, discriminating whether or noteach of the files can be decoded normally based on the informationregarding the decoding, and displaying the files recorded on therecording medium in a table such that only those of the files which canbe decoded normally can be selected.

With the file managing method, even where one of files recorded on arecording medium is difficult to reproduce normally, another one of thefiles selected by the user can be reproduced normally.

In summary, according to the present invention, files are partiallyreproduced to acquire information regarding decoding, and it isdiscriminated based on the information whether or not the files can bereproduced normally and a table of the files is displayed. Consequently,even where one of files recorded on a recording medium is difficult toprocess normally, another one of the files selected by the user can beprocessed normally.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an optical disk apparatus according toa first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a processing procedure of a systemcontrolling microcomputer of the optical disk apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are flow charts illustrating a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process of the processing procedureillustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts illustrating a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process of an optical disk apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a QuickTime movie file foruse with an optical disk apparatus according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a file type compatibilityatom in the QuickTime movie file illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a profile atom in theQuickTime movie file illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a setting of the profileatom illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example of the profileatom illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 13 to 15 are flow charts illustrating a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process of the optical disk apparatusaccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a table used in theprocessing procedure illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a setting of a profile atomin a QuickTime movie file used in an optical-disk apparatus according toa fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 18 to 20 are flow charts illustrating a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process of the optical disk apparatusaccording to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating a file reproduction possibilitydiscrimination process of an optical disk apparatus according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 22 to 24 are flow charts illustrating a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process of an optical disk apparatusaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a setting of a profile atomfor use with an optical disk apparatus according to a seventh embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an example of the setting ofthe profile atom illustrated in FIG. 25;

FIGS. 27 and 28 are flow charts illustrating a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process of the optical disk apparatusaccording to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a setting of a profile atomfor use with an optical disk apparatus according to an eighth embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart illustrating a file reproduction possibilitydiscrimination process of the optical disk apparatus according to theeighth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 31 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an index file for use withan optical disk apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, several embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail with reference to the drawings.

1. First Embodiment 1-1. Configuration of the First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an optical disk apparatus according to a first embodimentof the present invention. The optical disk apparatus 1 acquires a videosignal and an audio signal of an image pickup object by means of animage pickup section and a sound acquisition section not shown andrecords a result of image pickup as the video signal and audio signal onan optical disk 2. Further, the optical disk apparatus 1 reproduces theresult of the image pickup recorded on the optical disk 2 and outputs itfrom a displaying section in the form of a liquid crystal display paneland a sound outputting section in the form of a speaker and furtheroutputs it to an external equipment. The optical disk apparatus 1converts such a video signal and an audio signal of the image pickupresult into streaming data in accordance with a format of the MPEG(Moving Picture Experts Group) and then records the streaming data inaccordance with a predetermined file format on the optical disk 2. Inthe present embodiment, the QuickTime is applied as the predeterminedfile format just described.

In the optical disk apparatus 1, a video encoder 11 performs ananalog/digital conversion process for a video signal of a result ofimage pickup to produce video data and then encodes the video data inaccordance with the format of the MPEG. Consequently, an elementarystream of the video data is outputted from the video encoder 11.

An audio encoder 12 performs an analog/digital conversion process for anaudio signal of a result of image pickup to produce audio data and thenencodes the audio data in accordance with the format of the MPEG.Consequently, an elementary stream of the audio data is outputted fromthe audio encoder 12.

A file production section 15 performs, upon recording, a multiplexingprocess for the elementary streams outputted from the video encoder 11and the audio encoder 12 and produces a QuickTime movie file under thecontrol of a system controlling microcomputer 19.

A memory controller 18 changes over operation thereof under the controlof the system controlling microcomputer 19. Upon recording, the memorycontroller 18 successively records and temporarily retains a data stringof a QuickTime movie file outputted from the file production section 15and various data outputted from the system controlling microcomputer 19into a memory 17 and then outputs the retained data so as to beprocessed by a succeeding error correction encoding/decoding section 21.On the other hand, upon reproducing, the memory controller 18temporarily retains output data from the error correctionencoding/decoding section 21 and outputs the retained data to a filedecoder 16 and the system controlling microcomputer 19.

The error correction encoding/decoding section 21 changes over operationthereof under the control of the system controlling microcomputer 19,and upon recording, temporarily records output data from the memorycontroller 18 into a memory 20 and adds an error correction code to thetemporarily recorded data. Further, the error correctionencoding/decoding section 21 reads out and outputs the data retained inthe memory 20 in such a manner as just described in accordance with apredetermined order. Thereupon, the data are interleaved, and theinterleaved data are outputted to a data modulation/demodulation section23. On the other hand, upon reproduction, the error correctionencoding/decoding section 21 temporarily records data outputted from thedata modulation/demodulation section 23 into the memory 20 in accordancewith a predetermined order and then outputs the data conversely to thoseupon recording. Thereupon, the error correction encoding/decodingsection 21 performs a deinterleave process for the data outputted fromthe data modulation/demodulation section 23 and outputs thedeinterleaved data to the memory controller 18. Further, at this time,the error correction encoding/decoding section 21 performs an errorcorrection process with the error correction code added upon recording.

The data modulation/demodulation section 23 changes over operationthereof under the control of the system controlling microcomputer 19.Upon recording, the data modulation/demodulation section 23 convertsoutput data from the error correction encoding/decoding section 21 intoa serial data string and then performs a modulation process for theserial data string, and outputs the modulated serial data string to amagnetic field modulation driver 24 or an optical pickup 33. On theother hand, upon reproduction, the data modulation/demodulation section23 reproduces a clock from a reproduction signal outputted from theoptical pickup 33 and performs a binary identification process and ademodulation process for the reproduction signal with reference to theclock. Consequently, the data modulation/demodulation section 23acquires reproduction data corresponding to the serial data stringproduced upon recording and outputs the reproduction data to the errorcorrection encoding/decoding section 21.

Where a magneto-optical disk is used as the optical disk 2, uponrecording, the magnetic modulation driver 24 drives a magnetic fieldhead 32 with an output signal of the data modulation/demodulationsection 23 under the control of the system controlling microcomputer 19.Here, the magnetic field head 32 is held so as to face the opticalpickup 33 with the optical disk 2 interposed therebetween, and applies amodulation magnetic field based on the output data from the datamodulation/demodulation section 23 to an irradiation position of a laserbeam of the optical pickup 33. Consequently, in the optical diskapparatus 1, where a magneto-optical disk is used as the optical disk 2,a QuickTime movie file and so forth are recorded on the optical disk 2using a thermomagnetic recording method.

The optical disk 2 is a disk type recording medium. In the presentembodiment, as the optical disk 2, a rewritable optical disk such as amagneto-optical disk (MO), a phase change type disk or the like is used.A spindle motor 31 drives the optical disk 2 to rotate in accordancewith a condition such as a constant linear velocity (CLV), a constantangular velocity (CAV), a zone constant linear velocity or the likesuitable for the optical disk 2 under the control of a servo circuit 30.

The servo circuit 30 controls operation of the spindle motor 31 based onvarious signals outputted from the optical pickup 33 to perform aspindle controlling process. Further, the servo circuit 30 similarlycontrols the optical pickup 33 to perform a tracking control and afocusing control process, and further causes the optical pickup 33 andthe magnetic field head 32 to perform seeking operation and executes aprocess such as a focus searching process.

A drive controlling microcomputer 22 controls operation of seeking andso forth of the servo circuit 30 in accordance with an instruction ofthe system controlling microcomputer 19.

The optical pickup 33 irradiates a laser beam upon the optical disk 2and receives the reflected light by means of a predetermined lightreception element, and then arithmetically operates a result of thelight reception to produce various controlling signals. The opticalpickup 33 outputs the controlling signals and further outputs areproduction signal whose signal level varies in response to a pitstring or a mark string formed on the optical disk 2. Further, theoptical pickup 33 changes over operation thereof under the control ofthe system controlling microcomputer 19, and where the optical disk 2 isa magneto-optical disk, upon recording, the optical pickup 33intermittently raises the luminous energy of the laser beam to beirradiated upon the optical disk 2. Consequently, in the optical diskapparatus 1, a QuickTime movie file or a like file is recorded onto theoptical disk 2 by a pulse train system. On the other-hand, where theoptical disk 2 is a phase change type disk or the like, the opticalpickup 33 raises the luminous energy of the laser beam to be irradiatedupon the optical disk 2 from that upon reproduction to that uponwriting. Consequently, a QuickTime movie file or the like is recorded onthe optical disk by applying a thermal recording method.

The optical disk apparatus 1 compresses a video signal and an audiosignal of a result of image pickup by means of the video encoder 11 andthe audio encoder 12 to individually convert them into elementarystreams and then converts the elementary streams into a QuickTime moviefile by means of the file production section 15. Data of the QuickTimemovie file is sent successively through the memory controller 18, errorcorrection encoding/decoding section 21 and data modulation/demodulationsection 23 to the optical pickup 33. The data of the QuickTime moviefile is recorded on the optical disk 2 by the optical pickup 33 or bythe optical pickup 33 and the magnetic field head 32.

Further, the optical disk apparatus 1 processes a reproduction signalobtained by the optical pickup 33 by means of the datamodulation/demodulation section 23 to obtain reproduction data and thenprocesses the reproduction data by means of the error correctionencoding/decoding section 21. Consequently, a QuickTime movie file andso forth recorded on the optical disk 2 can be reproduced, and thereproduced QuickTime movie file and so forth are outputted from thememory controller 18.

The file decoder 16 receives data of the QuickTime movie file outputtedfrom the memory controller 18, decomposes the data into elementarystreams of video data and audio data, and outputs the elementarystreams. A video decoder 13 decompresses the elementary stream of thevideo data and outputs the decompressed elementary stream to a displayapparatus or external equipment not shown. An audio decoder 14decomposes the elementary stream of the audio data outputted from thefile decoder 16 and outputs the decompressed elementary stream to asound outputting apparatus or external equipment not shown.Consequently, in the optical disk apparatus 1, a result of image pickupreproduced from the optical disk 2 can be monitored.

An operation section 26 includes various operation elements of theoptical disk apparatus 1 and a touch panel disposed on a liquid crystaldisplay panel, and issues a notification of various operations by theuser to the system controlling microcomputer 19.

The system controlling microcomputer 19 controls operation of the entireoptical disk apparatus 1. If loading of the optical disk 2 is detectedthrough execution of a predetermined processing procedure recorded in amemory not shown, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 causesthe optical pickup 33 to perform seeking operation to the innermostcircumference and reproduce management information of a file managingsystem regarding the optical disk 2. Further, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires the reproduced management information from thememory controller 18 and stores it into a built-in memory. Consequently,the system controlling microcomputer 19 detects an address each filerecorded on the optical disk 2 and a free region of the optical disk 2.

In particular, if an instruction to record an image pickup result isissued by the user, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 detectsa free region in accordance with the management information retained inthe memory and causes the optical pickup 33 to perform seeking operationto the free region, and records successively obtained image pickupresults onto the optical disk 2. Further, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 updates the management information retained in thememory so as to correspond to records of a QuickTime movie file. Then,upon ejection of the optical disk 2 or the like, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 updates the management information of the optical disk2 in accordance with the updated management information. It is to benoted that the updating of the management information is executed byoutputting the management information retained and updated in the memoryto the error correction encoding/decoding section 21 through the memorycontroller 18.

On the other hand, if an instruction to reproduce a file recorded on theoptical disk 2 is issued by the user, then the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 detects a recording position of a corresponding file inaccordance with the management information retained in the memory andissues an instruction to reproduce the corresponding file based on aresult of the detection.

In the reproduction process, the system controlling microcomputer 19displays a table of the files recorded on the optical disk 2 and acceptsan instruction for reproduction issued by a selection operation of theuser in the displayed table of the files.

In the reproduction process, the system controlling microcomputer 19executes a processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 2 to detect fileswhich can be reproduced normally and display only the detected files inthe form of a table. Consequently, in the present embodiment, even wherefiles which are difficult to reproduce normally are recorded on theoptical disk 2, a file selected by the user can be reproduced normally.

In particular, if an instruction to display a table is issued from theuser, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances theprocessing from step SP1 to step SP2, at which it acquires directoryinformation of a corresponding directory in accordance with managementinformation regarding a file management system of the optical disk 2stored in the memory. It is to be noted that the directory justdescribed is, for example, a directory of favorite contents selected bythe user, a root directory or the like, and directory information isformed from sub directories belonging to the directory, a set of entriesof attribute information regarding files and so forth.

Then, the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing tostep SP3, at which it acquires information of one of entries from thedirectory information. Then, if acquisition of the information of theentry is difficult at step SP3 because, for example, a file or a subfolder is not registered in the folder of favorite contents designatedby the user, then the processing advances from step SP4 to step SP5, atwhich the processing procedure is ended without displaying a table offiles.

On the other hand, if it is discriminated at step SP4 that informationof the entry is acquired successfully, then the processing advances tostep SP6, at which it is discriminated whether or not informationregarding a file is registered in the acquired entry. Here, if anegative result is obtained, then since this signifies, for example,that a file is not registered in the folder of favorite contentsdesignated by the user, the processing advances from step SP6 to stepSP7. At step SP7, a process corresponding to the type of the entry isexecuted, and then the processing advances to step SP8. It is to benoted that the process corresponding to the type of the entry is, forexample, a process wherein, where the designation of the user is todisplay the favorite contents in a table display, favorite subdirectories stored in the highest order directory relating to thefavorite contents are set as a display object for a table display.

If the process corresponding to the entry is executed in this manner,then at next step SP8, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquiresa next entry from the information of the directory acquired at step SP2and returns the processing to step SP4.

On the other hand, if the entry is a file at step SP6, then since anaffirmative result is obtained, the system controlling microcomputer 19advances the processing from step SP6 to step SP9. At step SP9, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 discriminates whether or not thefile regarding the entry is a QuickTime movie file which is a file of aprocessing object in the optical disk apparatus 1 based on the extensionof a corresponding file set in the entry. If a negative result isobtained at step SP9, then the system controlling microcomputer 19advances the processing from step SP9 to step SP10, at which a processcorresponding to the type of the file specified by the extension isexecuted, whereafter the processing advances to step SP8. It is to benoted that, in the process corresponding to the type of the file, forexample, it may be further discriminated whether or not the file hascompatibility with a QuickTime movie file, and if the file does not havecompatibility with a QuickTime movie file, then the file may beeliminated from an object of a table display. However, if the file hascompatibility with a QuickTime movie file, then a process following theprocessing procedure just described may be executed similarly as in theprocess regarding a QuickTime movie file.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP9,then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processingfrom step SP9 to step SP11, at which it executes a reproductionpossibility discrimination process of the file. Here, the reproductionpossibility discrimination process of the file is a process wherein thecorresponding file is partly reproduced from the optical disk 2 toacquire information regarding a decoding process set in the file andthen it is discriminated based on the information regarding the decodingprocess whether or not the file can be decoded normally. Further,corresponding to the process just described, information regardingdecoding and information regarding a file structure are allocated to theQuickTime movie file in a hierarchical structure formed from atoms. Atstep SP11, the system controlling microcomputer 19 discriminates whetheror not the file of the entry can be reproduced normally, and at nextstep SP12, the system controlling microcomputer 19 discriminates whetheror not a result of the discrimination that the file can be reproducednormally is obtained. Here, if a negative result is obtained, then thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing from stepSP12 to step SP13, at which it eliminates the file of the entry from anobject of a table display, whereafter it advances the processing to stepSP8.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP12,then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processingfrom step SP12 to step SP14, at which it sets the file of the entry as afile which can be reproduced normally to a displaying object of a tabledisplay, whereafter it returns the processing to step SP8.

The system controlling microcomputer 19 successively detects those fileswhich can be reproduced normally regarding the entries which belong tothe directory. Then, if the process for all of the files is completed,then since a negative result is obtained at step SP4, the processing nowadvances from step SP4 to step SP55, at which the files set as adisplaying object are displayed as a table together with the folders ofthe sub directories and then the processing procedure is ended.

FIGS. 3 to 5 particularly illustrate the reproduction possibilitydiscrimination process of a file executed at step SP11 in the processingprocedure illustrated in FIG. 2. By executing the processing procedureillustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the system controlling microcomputer 19partly reproduces a file which is a discrimination object from theoptical disk 2 and acquires information regarding decoding from thereproduced file and then discriminates whether or not the file can bereproduced normally.

In particular, after the processing procedure is started, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 advances the processing from step SP21 tostep SP22. It is to be noted that, in the following description, avariable acquired from the file is represented by capital letters whilethe others are represented by lower-case letters as in the drawings. Atstep SP22, the system controlling microcomputer 19 issues an instructionfor reproduction of the optical disk 2 based on recording positioninformation included in the directory information acquired at step SP3or step SP8 to reproduce part of the file of the entry and acquires amovie resource atom (moov atom) of the QuickTime movie file through thefile decoder 16.

At step SP23, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a movieheader atom (mvhd atom) from the acquired movie resource atom. Then atstep SP24, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a value of atimescale set in the movie header atom. Then at next step SP25, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 stores the value acquired at stepSP24 into the built-in memory.

At step SP26, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a firsttrack atom (trak atom) from the acquired movie resource atom, and thenat step SP27, discriminates whether or not the track atom is acquiredsuccessfully. Here, if a negative result is obtained, then since thissignifies that there is no track to make an object of reproduction inthe file of a processing object, the processing advances from step SP27to step SP28, at which the QuickTime movie file is set as a file whichis difficult to reproduce normally. Then, the processing returns fromstep SP29 to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP27,then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processingfrom step SP27 to step SP30. At step SP30, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires a media atom from the acquired track atom,and, at next step SP31, acquires a value of a duration set in the mediaatom. Then at next step SP32, the system controlling microcomputer 19stores the acquired value of the duration into the built-in memory.

At step SP33, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a mediaatom from the acquired track atom, and, at next step SP34, acquires amedia header atom (mdhd atom) from the media atom. Then at next stepSP35, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a timescale setin the media header atom, and, at next step SP36, stores the timescaleinto the built-in memory.

Further, at step SP37, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquiresa media handler reference atom (hdlr atom) from the acquired media atom,and, at next step SP38, detects a setting of a component subtype set inthe acquired media header reference atom. Then at step SP39, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 records the detected component subtype inthe memory, and thereafter, at step SP40, discriminates whether or notthe value of the component subtype indicates a video.

If an affirmative result is obtained at step SP40, then since thissignifies that it is discriminated that the object track is a videotrack, the processing advances from step SP40 to step SP43. Referringnow to FIG. 4, at step SP43, the system controlling microcomputer 19acquires a sample table atom (stbl atom) from the acquired media atom,and at next step SP44, acquires a sample description atom (stsd atom)set in the sample table atom. Further, at step SP45, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 acquires a data format which indicates atype of a codec from the sample description atom, and at next step SP46,stores the data format into the memory. Then at next step SP47, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 acquires information (width) whichindicates a size of a screen in the vertical direction and information(height) which indicates a size of the screen in the horizontaldirection and then stores them into the memory.

At step SP48, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a sampletime atom (Sample to Time Atom: atts Atom) from the sample table atom,and at step SP49, acquires a duration of each sample from the sampletime atom. At step SP50, the system controlling microcomputer 19calculates a frame rate of the video data from the duration and thevalue of the timescale of the track and then stores a result of thecalculation into the memory.

At step SP51, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires a samplesize atom (stsz atom) from the sample table atom, and then at stepSP552, calculates the total amount of samples included in the videotrack based on data set in the sample size atom. At step SP53, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 calculates a bit rate (BITRATE) ofthe track from the total amount of the samples, the duration stored inthe memory at step SP32 and the timescale stored in the memory at stepSP25 and then stores a result of the calculation into the memory.

Thus, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires informationregarding decoding means of the optical disk apparatus 1 from theinformation regarding decoding set in the QuickTime movie file regardingthe track of the QuickTime movie file. Then at step SP54, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 compares the acquired information andspecifications regarding the processing capacity of the video decodingsection 13 with each other. In particular, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 compares the data format which indicates the type ofthe codec acquired at step SP46, information (width) which indicates thesize of the screen in the vertical direction acquired at step SP47,information (height) which indicates the size of the screen in thehorizontal direction, frame rate detected at step SP50, and streamingdata regarding the bit rate detected at step SP53 with the processingcapacity of the video decoding section 13.

Referring now to FIG. 5, at step SP55, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 discriminates whether or not the track can bereproduced normally based on a result of the comparison. Here, if anegative result is obtained, then the processing advances from step SP55to step SP56, at which the QuickTime movie file is set as a file whichis difficult to reproduce normally. Then, the processing returns fromstep SP57 to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP55,then the processing advances from step SP55 to step SP59 illustrated inFIG. 3, at which the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires atrack atom (trak atom) regarding a next track from the movie resourceatom. Then at step SP60, the system controlling microcomputer 19discriminates whether or not a track atom is acquired successfully.Here, if an affirmative result is obtained, then the processing returnsto step SP30, at which, for the track atom acquired at step SP59, aprocess similarly as in the case wherein an affirmative result isobtained at step SP27 is performed.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP40, thenthe system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing fromstep SP40 to step SP63, at which it discriminates whether or not thevalue of the component subtype is soun which indicates an audio track.Here, if an affirmative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 advances the processing from step SP63 to step SP66(FIG. 3), at which it acquires a sample table atom (stbl atom) from theacquired media atom. Then at step SP67, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires a sample description atom (stsd atom) set inthe sample table atom. At next step SP68, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires a data format which indicates a type of acodec from the sample description atom, and at step SP69, stores thedata format into the memory. Then at step SP70, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires a sample rate of audio data from the sampledescription atom, and at step SP71, acquires a sample size atom (stszatom) from the sample table atom. Thereafter, at step SP72, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 calculates a total amount of samplesincluded in the audio track based on the setting of the sample sizeatom.

At step SP73, the system controlling microcomputer 19 calculates a bitrate (BITRATE) of the track from the total amount of the samples,duration stored in the memory at step SP32, and timescale stored in thememory at step SP25, and stored a result of the calculation into thememory.

Thus, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires informationregarding decoding means of the optical disk apparatus 1 frominformation regarding decoding set in the QuickTime movie file regardingthe audio track of the QuickTime movie file. Then at step SP74, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 compares the acquired informationjust described and specifications regarding the processing capacity ofthe audio decoder 14 with each other. In particular, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 compares the data format which indicatesthe type of the codec acquired at step SP69, sample rate acquired atstep SP70, and bit rate calculated at step SP73 with the processingcapacity of the audio decoder 14.

At next step SP55 illustrated in FIG. 5, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 discriminates, based on the result of the comparisonjust described, whether or not the audio track can be reproducednormally. Also at this time, if the audio track is difficult toreproduce, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 executes theprocesses at step SP56 and SP57 and then returns the processing to theoriginal processing procedure. If another result of the discriminationthat the audio track can be reproduced normally is obtained at stepSP55, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances theprocessing from step SP55 to step SP59 (FIG. 3), at which it changesover the processing to that for a next track.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP63, thensince the track in this instance is not a video track or an audio track,the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing fromstep SP63 to step SP76. At step SP76, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires a sample table atom (stbl atom) from theacquired media atom. At step SP77, the system controlling microcomputer19 acquires a sample description atom (stsd atom) set in the sampletable atom. At step SP78, the system controlling microcomputer 19acquires a data format which indicates a type of a codec from the sampledescription atom, and at step SP79, discriminates whether or not thedata format can be processed.

Here, if a negative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 advances the processing from step SP79 to step SP56 andfurther to step SP57, at which it performs the individual processes.Thereafter, the processing returns from step SP57 to the originalprocessing procedure. On the other hand, if an affirmative result isobtained at step SP79, then the processing advances from step SP79 tostep SP80. It is to be noted that the processing advances to step SP80as just described in the case wherein the optical disk apparatus 1 hasprocessing means for media having a format of the QuickTime other thanvideo data or audio data. At step SP80, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires information regarding decoding which is adiscrimination material for discriminating whether or not the dataformat can be decoded normally by the processing means from the mediaatom. At step SP81, the system controlling microcomputer 19 compares theacquired information and the processing capacity of the other processingmeans with each other, and then advances the processing to step SP55. Inthis manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 discriminateswhether or not the track can be reproduced normally, and if a result ofthe discrimination that the track cannot be reproduced normally isobtained also in this case, then the processes at steps SP56 and SP57are executed and then the processing returns to the original processingprocedure. On the other hand, if another result of the discriminationthat the reproduction can be performed normally is obtained, then thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing from stepSP55 to step SP59 (FIG. 3), at which it changes over the processing to anext track.

Thus, the system controlling microcomputer 19 acquires informationregarding decoding of the tracks set to the QuickTime movie file fromthe QuickTime movie file and discriminates whether or not they can bereproduced normally.

Further, where it is discriminated that all of the tracks can bereproduced normally, an affirmative result is obtained at step SP60(FIG. 3), and the processing advances from step SP60 to step SP85, atwhich the QuickTime movie file is set as a file which can be reproducednormally. Then the processing returns from step SP86 to the originalprocessing procedure.

1-2. Operation of the First Embodiment

In the optical disk apparatus 1 (FIG. 1) having the configurationdescribed above, video data acquired using an image pickup apparatus andaudio data acquired using a sound acquisition apparatus are encoded bythe video encoder 11 and the audio encoder 12, respectively. Then, theencoded data are converted into a data stream of a QuickTime movie fileby the file production section 15. Thereafter, the data stream isrecorded on the optical disk 2 through the recording system formed fromthe memory controller 18, error correction encoding/decoding section 21,data modulation/demodulation section 23, magnetic field modulationdriver 24, and optical pickup 33. Consequently, in the optical diskapparatus 1, a result of the image pickup is recorded as a QuickTimemovie file on the optical disk 2. Further, output data of the systemcontrolling micro computer 19 is outputted to the recording system ofthe optical disk apparatus 1 so as to be ready for recording of the fileon the optical disk 2. Consequently, the management informationregarding the file management system of the optical disk 2 is updated soas to correspond to the record of the QuickTime movie file.

Such a QuickTime movie file recorded in such a manner as just describedis successively reproduced based on the management information by thefile management system through the optical pickup 33, datamodulation/demodulation section 23, error correction encoding/decodingsection 21, and memory controller 18. Then, the QuickTime movie file isdivided into elementary streams of video data and audio data by the filedecoder 16, and then the elementary streams are decoded and outputtedfrom the video decoder 13 and the audio decoder 14, respectively.

In the optical disk apparatus 1 which performs recording andreproduction of results of image pickup, if the user issues aninstruction for display in a table of the files recorded on the opticaldisk 2, then the optical disk apparatus 1 discriminates based ondirectory information which is the management information regarding thefile management system of the optical disk 2 whether or not a filebelonging to the directory for display in a table is a file of aprocessing object. Each file discriminated as a processing object fileas just described is reproduced to discriminate based on informationregarding decoding set in the file whether or not the file can bereproduced normally. Then, only those files which can be reproducednormally are displayed as a table. Further, if the user selects adesired file from within the displayed table, then the correspondingfile is reproduced.

Consequently, in the optical disk apparatus 1, since only the fileswhich can be reproduced normally are selectively displayed, even iffiles which are difficult to reproduce normally are recorded on theoptical disk 2 which is a recording medium, a file selected by the usercan be reproduced normally.

1-3. Advantages of the First Embodiment

With the first embodiment having the configuration described above, onlythose files which are a reproduction object are selected based onmanagement information regarding a file management system, and onlythose files which can be reproduced normally are selectively displayedbased on information regarding decoding obtained by partly reproducingthe selected files. Consequently, even if files which are difficult toreproduce normally are recorded on the optical disk 2 which is arecording medium, a file selected by the user can be reproducednormally.

2. Second Embodiment

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a processing procedure of a file reproductionpossibility discrimination process according to a second embodiment. Thepresent embodiment is configured similarly to the first embodimentexcept that the processing procedure illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 isexecuted in place of the processing procedure described hereinabove withreference to FIGS. 3 to 5. Further, in the processing procedureillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, like steps to those of the processingprocedure described above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 are denoted bylike reference characters, and overlapping description of them isomitted herein to avoid redundancy.

In the file reproduction possibility discrimination process, if anegative result is obtained at step SP63, then the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 returns the processing to step SP59. Consequently, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 performs discrimination of whetheror not reproduction can be performed normally only with regard to avideo track and an audio track based on information regarding decoding.

Also where discrimination of whether or not reproduction can beperformed normally is performed only with regard to a video track and anaudio track based on information regarding decoding as in the presentembodiment, similar advantages to those of the first embodiment can beachieved. Further, where the discrimination of whether or notreproduction can be performed normally is performed only with regard toa video track and an audio track based on information regarding decodingin this manner, in the case of an application which reproduces only avideo track and/or an audio track or another application wherein anyother track than video tracks and audio tracks may be reproduced notprecisely, similar advantages to those of the first embodiment can beachieved by a process simpler than that in the first embodiment.

3. Third Embodiment

Incidentally, where a file is finally reproduced partially to acquireinformation regarding decoding as in the first and second embodimentsdescribed above, considerable time is required for the discrimination ofwhether or not decoding of the file can be performed normally.Therefore, there is a drawback that time is required for display in atable as much and the convenience in use is deteriorated thereby.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a QuickTime movie file isproduced by the file producer 15, information regarding decoding whichis a material of discrimination of whether or not the QuickTime moviefile can be reproduced normally is disposed collectively at a topportion of the TQ movie file using an atom for exclusive use. Further,it is discriminated based on the discrimination material disposedcollectively in this manner whether or not the QuickTime movie file canbe reproduced normally. In this connection, the present embodiment isconfigured similarly to the first embodiment except that theconfiguration of the QuickTime movie file is partly different. In thefollowing, description is given suitably using the above-describedconfiguration of the first embodiment. It is to be noted that such adiscrimination material as described above need not necessarily be setwhen a-QuickTime movie file is produced by the file producer 15, but maybe provided, for example, in a file recorded on a optical disk 2 usingsome other apparatus to re-record the file including the discriminationmaterial.

FIG. 8 illustrates a configuration of the movie atom (moov) side of aQuickTime movie file according to the present embodiment. Referring toFIG. 8, in the QuickTime movie file illustrated, a file typecompatibility atom (ftyp) and a profile atom (prfl) are provided in ahigher hierarchy with respect to the movie atom (moov). In the QuickTimemovie file, information necessary for discrimination of thespecifications of the format of the QuickTime movie file is set to theformat compatibility atom, and information regarding decoding isallocated to the profile atom.

Consequently, in the QuickTime movie file, a criterion regarding whetheror not the QuickTime movie file can be reproduced normally is providedon the top side of the file. Consequently, the discrimination of whetheror not the QuickTime movie file can be reproduced normally can beexecuted simply and rapidly as much.

FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration of the file type compatibility atom.In the file type compatibility atom, information (Size) representativeof the size of the file type compatibility atom is allocated to the fourtop bytes. Further, information (Type) representing that the atom is afile type compatibility atom is allocated to the next four bytes. It isto be noted that ftyp is set to the information (Type).

In the file type compatibility atom, a major brand (Major-Brand) isregistered in the further next 4 bytes. To the major brand(Major-Brand), an identifier for identification of the file format ofthe QuickTime movie file is set. Consequently, in the presentembodiment, it is possible to discriminate based on the major brand(Major-Brand) whether or not the QuickTime movie file can be processed.It is to be noted that, in the present embodiment, the major brand isset, for example, to mqt.

To the following 4 bytes of the file type compatibility atom, a minorversion (Minor-Version) is allocated. To the minor version(Minor-Version), a version of specifications relating to the QuickTimemovie file in the major brand (Major-Brand) is allocated.

It is to be noted that the form of the minor version (Minor-Version) maydiffer among different specifications of the format indicated by themajor brand (Major-Brand). Also, it is possible to partition the fieldof the minor version in a unit of 4 bits in accordance with the formatof the major brand (Major-Brand) and place, for example, the version 1.3as 0x00013000. In addition, an identifier of the producing person of thefile and/or the application program may be placed in the minor version.It is to be noted that, in this instance, it is a possible idea to usethe most significant 8 bits as the integer part of the version numberand use the succeeding 8 bits as the fractional part of the versionnumber while the further succeeding 10 bits are used as the identifierof the producing person of the file and the last 6 bits are used as anidentifier of the application with which the file is produced such that,for example, the version number 1.16, the identifier 0 of the fileproducing person and the identifier 1 of the application are representedas 0x01100001.

In the file type compatibility atom, a format (format compatible withthe major brand (Major-Brand)) with which the QuickTime movie file canbe reproduced and decoded is recorded in the form of repetitions of thecompatibility brand (Compatible-Brand). In particular, for example,where the major brand is mqt, mqt and qt are placed in the compatibilitybrand. Consequently, in the present embodiment, it can be detected that,also where a compatible application program or the like is used, thefile can be reproduced.

Meanwhile, a configuration of the profile atom is illustrated in FIG.10. Referring to FIG. 10, to the profile atom, information (Size)indicative of the size of the profile atom and information (Type (inthis instance, prfl is set)) indicating that the atom is a profile atomare set. Further, a version (Version), various flags (flags) and a countvalue (feature-recorded-count) are set, and furthermore, various kindsof information regarding decoding are recorded in the form ofrepetitions of a list (feature-record-list). The count value(feature-record-count) indicates the number of the lists.

The list (feature-record-list) includes a track ID (track-ID) forsuccessively specifying track atoms, a sub part track-ID (sub-track-ID)for specifying a sub part of a track, information (feature) indicativeof a type of information regarding decoding, and corresponding actualdata (value). To the information (feature) indicative of a type ofinformation regarding decoding, various items such as a type of a codec,a bit rate of data and a frame rate of video data can be set as seen inFIG. 11. Further, corresponding to the items actual data can be set inthe items. It is to be noted that FIG. 12 illustrates an example ofsetting of information regarding decoding according to the list(feature-record-list). Referring to FIG. 12, in the example illustrated,it is indicated that, in the track whose track ID is 1, the codec is theMPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 4 video codec; the bit rate is384,000 [bps]; the frame rate is 15 [fps]; the size of the screen is 352pixels in the horizontal direction and 288 pixels in the verticaldirection; and the frame rate is a fixed frame rate. Further, it isindicated that, in the track whose track ID is 2, the codec is the MPEG4 audio codec; the bit rate is 128,000 [bps], the sampling frequency is48,000 [Hz]; and the bit rate is a fixed rate.

Consequently, in the present embodiment, it can be discriminated basedon the profile atom whether or not the QuickTime movie file can beproduced without any trouble.

FIGS. 13 to 16 illustrate a preproduction possibility discriminationprocess of the system controlling microcomputer 19 where the QuickTimemovie file having the configuration described hereinabove with referenceto FIG. 8 is used. The system controlling microcomputer 19 uses thereproduction possibility discrimination process illustrated in FIGS. 13to 16 in place of the file reproduction possibility discriminationprocess described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 todiscriminate whether or not a file can be reproduced normally. It is tobe noted that the system controlling microcomputer 19 in the presentembodiment discriminates, as a presupposition for the file reproductionpossibility discrimination process, whether or not a file has a fileformat which can be reproduced based on directory information regardinga file management system of an optical disk 2 similarly as in the firstembodiment.

After the system controlling microcomputer 19 starts the processingprocedure illustrated in FIG. 13, it advances the processing from stepSP101 to step S102, at which it initializes a working table. The workingtable is illustrated in FIG. 16 and includes a collection of actual dataof information regarding decoding in a unit of a track ID and a sub-partID. The system controlling microcomputer 19 sets the track ID, sub-partID and actual data of the table retained in the memory to default valuesto initialize the working table.

Referring back to FIG. 13, the system controlling microcomputer 19acquires the file type compatibility atom from a QuickTime movie file atstep S102-1. Then at step SP102-2, the system controlling microcomputer19 discriminates based on the major brand set in the file compatibilityatom whether or not the format specifications adopted by the file can bereproduced. Then, if a result of the discrimination is that thereproduction is difficult, then the system controlling microcomputer 19advances the processing to step SP114 (FIG. 15), at which it sets thefile as an irreproducible file, whereafter it returns the processing tothe original processing procedure through step SP115. On the other hand,if it is discriminated at step SP102-2 of FIG. 13 that the reproductionis possible, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances theprocessing to step SP103, at which it acquires the profile atom from theQuickTime movie file of the processing object. Then at step SP104, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 sets a processing variable Ncorresponding to the count value (feature-record-count) set to theprofile atom to the value 1.

Then at step SP105, the system controlling microcomputer 19discriminates whether or not the value of the processing variable N isgreater than the count value (feature-record-count) set to the profileatom. If a negative result is obtained, then the processing advancesfrom step SP105 to step SP106, at which the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 acquires the track ID, sub-part ID, information(feature) indicative of the type of information regarding decoding andcorresponding actual data (value) of the Nth list (feature-record-list)specified by the processing variable N. Then at step SP107, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 discriminates whether or not actual datacorresponding to the acquired track ID and sub-part ID is alreadyregistered in the working table. If such actual data is registeredalready, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 registers theactual data (value) in the column of the type (feature) acquired at stepSP106 of a record in which the track ID and the sub-part ID areregistered. On the other hand, if the track ID and the sub-part ID arenot registered in the working table as yet, then the processing advancesfrom step SP107 to step SP109, at which the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 produces a record of the track ID and the sub-part ID.Then at step SP108, the system controlling microcomputer 19 registersthe actual data (value) into the column of the type (feature) of theproduced record.

After the registration of the one list (feature-record-list) into theworking table is completed in this manner, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 increments the processing variable N by the value 1 atnext step SP110 and then returns the processing to step SP105.

Consequently, the system controlling microcomputer 19 repeats theprocessing procedure. Then, when registration of all of the listsregistered in the profile atom is completed, since an affirmative resultis obtained at step SP105, the processing advances now from step SP105to step SP111 (FIG. 14).

Referring to FIG. 14, at step SP111, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 initializes a processing variable M to the value 1. Theprocessing variable M is a variable corresponding to the number ofrecords of the working table. After the processing variable M is set,the system controlling microcomputer 19 sets the Mth record of theworking table designated by the value M of the processing variable M tothe record of an object of discrimination. Then at step SP113, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 discriminates based on the type ofthe codec set to the record of the discrimination object whether or notnormal decoding is possible. If a negative result is obtained, then thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing from stepSP113 to step SP114 (FIG. 15), at which it sets the QuickTime movie fileto a file which is difficult to reproduce normally. Thereafter, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing to stepSP115, at which it returns the processing to the original processingprocedure.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP113 ofFIG. 14, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances theprocessing from step SP113 to step SP116. At step SP116, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 discriminates whether or not a conditionfor the record is recording of a video. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the processing advances from step SP116 to step SP117, atwhich the system controlling microcomputer 19 compares the recordedcontents of the record and the capacity of the video decoder 13 witheach other. Further, at step SP118 (FIG. 15), the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 discriminates based on a result of the comparisonwhether or not normal reproduction is possible. If a negative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 returns theprocessing to the original processing procedure through the steps SP114and SP115. On the other hand, if it is discriminated at step SP118 thatnormal reproduction is possible, then the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 advances the processing from step SP118 to step SP119,at which it increments the processing variable M by the value 1,whereafter it advances the processing to step SP120. At step SP120, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 discriminates whether or not thevalue of the processing variable M exceeds the number of records of theworking table. If a negative result is obtained, then the processingreturns to step SP111 (FIG. 14) so that the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 thereafter repeats a similar process for a next record.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP116, thenthe system controlling microcomputer 19 now advances the processing fromstep SP116 to step SP122, at which it discriminates whether or not theactual data of the record is for an audio. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer 19 advances theprocessing from step SP122 to step SP123, at which it compares therecorded contents of the record and the capacity of the audio decoder 14with each other. Further at step SP118. (FIG. 15), the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 discriminates based on a result of thecomparison whether or not normal reproduction is possible, andthereafter, the system controlling microcomputer 19 executes such aseries of processes as described above in response to a result of thediscrimination.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP122, thenthe system controlling microcomputer 19 advances the processing now fromstep SP122 to step SP124. At step SP124, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 compares the capacity of the decoder for the record andthe recorded contents of the record with each other. Then at step SP118(FIG. 15), the system controlling microcomputer 19 discriminates basedon a result of the discrimination whether or not normal reproduction ispossible, and then executes a series of processes in accordance with aresult of the discrimination.

Consequently, in the present embodiment, it is discriminated whether ornot information regarding decoding set to a profile atom expanded in theworking table can be reproduced normally in a unit of a track ID and asub-part ID. Then, if a result of the discrimination that normalreproduction is possible is obtained with regard to all track IDs andsub-part IDs, then since an affirmative result is obtained at stepSP120, the processing advances from step SP120 to step SP125, at whichthe QuickTime movie file is set as a normally reproducible file.Thereafter, the processing returns to the original processing procedurethrough step SP115.

According to the embodiment described above, information regardingdecoding is recorded collectively at the top of a QuickTime movie file,and it is discriminated based on the information whether or not theQuickTime movie file can be reproduced normally. Consequently, the timerequired for the processing is reduced significantly, and similaradvantages to those of the first and second embodiments can beanticipated and the convenience in use of the user can be improvedsignificantly as much.

4. Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 17 illustrates contents of the profile atom set to a QuickTimemovie file according to the present embodiment. In the QuickTime moviefile according to the present embodiment, contents illustrated in FIG.17 are set in place of repetitions of the type (feature) of actual dataand the actual data (value) of the profile atom having the contentsillustrated in FIG. 11.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, prid is set to the information(feature) indicative of the type of actual data described hereinabovewith reference to FIG. 11, and the actual data illustrated in FIG. 17are placed in the actual data of the prid. Further, in the actual data(feature-record) wherein information (feature) representative of thetype of the actual data is set to the prid, the track ID is set to 0 andan identifier same as the major brand of the file type compatibilityatom is set to the sub-part ID in order to indicate that the list is notinformation regarding a particular track but is information regardingthe entire QuickTime movie file. Consequently, in the profile atom, theactual data is encoded and disposed at a predetermined bit position toreduce the information (feature) indicative of the type of the actualdata. Thus, the amount of data to be recorded on the optical disk 2 isreduced by an amount by which the information amount is reduced by theencoding of the actual data and further by an amount provided byelimination of repetitions of the track ID and sub-part ID.

Further, in the present embodiment, the setting of the code is performedsuch that the greater side in value of corresponding actual datacorresponds to the greater side in value of a code representation. Forexample, in a code of a sampling rate by the top 3 bits, a code of avalue 101 is set to the frequency 48 [kHz] while another code of anothervalue 010 lower than the value 101 is set to the frequency 24 [kHz]lower than the frequency 48 [kHz]. Consequently, in the presentembodiment, a relationship in magnitude of various conditions indecoding can be grasped roughly depending upon the setting of the code.

FIGS. 18 to 20 illustrate a file reproduction possibility discriminationprocess of the system controlling microcomputer where the profile atomin the present embodiment is used. The system controlling microcomputerin the present embodiment executes the processing procedure of FIGS. 18to 20 in place of the processing procedure of FIGS. 13 to 16.

Referring first to FIG. 18B, after the system controlling microcomputerstarts the processing procedure, it advances the processing from stepSP130 to step SP130-1, at which it acquires the file type compatibilityatom from a QuickTime movie file of a processing object. Then at stepSP130-2, the system controlling microcomputer discriminates based on themajor brand set to the file type compatibility atom whether or not theformat specifications adopted by the file can be reproduced. If adiscrimination result that the reproduction is difficult is obtained,then the processing advances to step SP137 (FIG. 19), at which thesystem controlling microcomputer sets the file as an irreproduciblefile, whereafter it returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP138. On the other hand, if anotherdiscrimination result that the reproduction is possible is obtained,then the processing now advances to step SP131 of FIG. 18, at which thesystem controlling microcomputer acquires the profile atom from theQuickTime movie file of the object of processing. Then at step SP132,the system controlling microcomputer acquires actual data(feature-record) described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 17 fromthe acquired profile atom. Then at step SP134, the system controllingmicrocomputer places the acquired actual data into a processing variable(VALUE).

At step SP135, the system controlling microcomputer extracts a cord typeportion (high order 6 bits) regarding video data from the variable(VALUE), and then at step SP136, discriminates based on the value of theextracted code type whether or not decoding is possible. If a negativeresult is obtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advancesthe processing from step SP136 to step SP137 (FIG. 19), at which it setsthe QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproducenormally, whereafter it returns the processing to the originalprocessing procedure through step SP138.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP136 ofFIG. 18, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing from step SP136 to step SP139. At step SP139, the systemcontrolling microcomputer encodes maximum specifications of the videodecoder 13 of the optical disk apparatus 1 so as to correspond to thevariable (VALUE) to set codes of a maximum frame rate (MAX FRAT), amaximum bit rate (MAX BRAT) and a maximum picture size (MAX SIZE).Further at step SP140, the system controlling microcomputer extracts acode portion of the frame rate from the variable (VALUE), and then atstep SP141, compares the extracted code portion with the code of themaximum frame rate (MAX FRAT) set at step SP139. If a result ofdiscrimination that the capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1 isinsufficient is obtained through the comparison, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer returns the processing from step SP141 to stepSP137, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP138.

On the other hand, if it is discriminates at step SP141 that the opticaldisk apparatus 1 has a sufficient capacity, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing to step SP142, at which itdiscriminates whether or not the flag of the variable (VALUE) indicativeof the variable bit rate of video data is in a set state. If the flagindicative of the variable bit rate is in a set state, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP143, atwhich it discriminates whether or not the optical disk apparatus 1 isready for the variable bit rate. If a negative result is obtained, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances the processing from stepSP143 to step S137, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as anormally irreproducible file. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP138.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP143,or if a discrimination result that the flag indicative of the variablebit rate is not in a set state is obtained at step SP142, then thesystem controlling microcomputer extracts a code portion of the bit ratefrom the variable (VALUE) at step SP144. Then at step SP145, the systemcontrolling microcomputer compares the extracted code portion with thecode of the maximum bit rate (MAX BRAT) set at step SP139. Then, if adiscrimination result that the capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1is insufficient is obtained by the comparison, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP145 tostep SP137, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP138.

On the other hand, if another discrimination result that the capacity ofthe optical disk apparatus 1 is sufficient is obtained at step SP145,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing tostep SP146, at which it extracts a code portion of the maximum picturesize from the variable (VALUE). Then at step SP147, the systemcontrolling microcomputer compares the extracted code portion with thecode (MAX SIZE) of the maximum picture size set at step SP139. If adiscrimination result that the capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1is insufficient is obtained by the comparison, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP147 tostep SP137, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP138.

In contrast, if another discrimination result that the capacity of theoptical disk apparatus 1 is sufficient is obtained at step SP147, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances the processing to stepSP148 (FIG. 20), at which it extracts a code type portion regardingaudio data from the variable (VALUE). Then at step SP149, the systemcontrolling microcomputer discriminates based on the value of theextracted code type whether or not decoding is possible. If a negativeresult is obtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advancesthe processing from step SP149 to step 150, at which it sets theQuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproduce normally,whereafter it returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP151.

On the other hand, if another discrimination result that decoding ispossible is obtained a step SP149, then the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to step SP152, at which it encodesthe maximum specifications of the audio decoder 14 so as to correspondto the variable (VALUE) thereby to set a maximum bit rate (MAX BRAT).Then at step SP153, the system controlling microcomputer discriminatesthe setting of the flag indicative of the variable bit rate of the audioin the variable (VALUE). If the flag indicative of the variable bit rateis in a set state, then the processing advances to step SP154, at whichthe system controlling microcomputer discriminates whether or not theoptical disk apparatus 1 is ready for the variable bit rate. If anegative result is obtained, then the system controlling microcomputeradvances the processing from step SP154 to step SP150, at which it setsthe QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproducenormally, whereafter it returns the processing to the originalprocessing procedure through step SP151.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP154,or if a discrimination result that the flag indicative of the variablebit rate is not in a set state is obtained at step SP153, then thesystem controlling microcomputer extracts a code portion of the bit rateregarding audio data from the variable (VALUE). Then at step SP156, thesystem controlling microcomputer compares the extracted code portionwith the code of the maximum bit rate (MAX BRAT) set at step SP152. If adiscrimination result that the capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1is insufficient is obtained by the comparison, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP156 tostep SP150, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP151.

On the other hand, if another discrimination result that the capacity ofthe optical disk apparatus 1 is sufficient is obtained at step SP156,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing tostep SP157, at which it extracts a code portion of the samplingfrequency-regarding audio data from the variable (VALUE). Then at stepSP158, the system controlling microcomputer discriminates whether or notdecoding is possible with the sampling frequency indicated by theextracted code portion. If a negative result is obtained, then thesystem controlling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP158to step SP150, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file whichis difficult to reproduce normally. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP151.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP158,then the processing advances from step SP158 to step SP159, at which thesystem controlling microcomputer sets the QuickTime movie file as anormally reproducible file, whereafter it returns the processing to theoriginal processing procedure through step SP151.

Consequently, in the present embodiment, advantages similar to those ofthe third embodiment can be anticipated eliminating an increase of thedata amount of a QuickTime movie file effectively. Actually, while,according to the configuration of the third embodiment, only the list(feature-record-list) requires 160 bytes, according to the presentembodiment, the information of 160 bytes can be represented with 16bytes.

5. Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 21 illustrates a file reproduction possibility discriminationprocess according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Thepresent embodiment is configured similarly to the fourth embodimentexcept that the processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 21 is appliedin place of the file reproduction possibility discrimination processdescribed hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20.

In particular, in the present embodiment, after the system controllingmicrocomputer starts the processing procedure, the processing advancesfrom step SP161 to step SP162. At step SP162, the system controllingmicrocomputer encodes combinations of different types of a codec whichcan decode video data and specifications in the optical disk apparatus 1so as to correspond to codes (FIG. 17) set to the QuickTime movie fileto form a table (VDEC TABLE) for criteria.

Then at step SP163, the system controlling microcomputer encodescombinations of different types of a codec which can decode audio dataand specifications in the optical disk apparatus 1 similarly to form atable (ADEC TABLE) for criteria.

Then at step SP164, the system controlling microcomputer acquires theprofile atom of the QuickTime movie file, and then at step SP165,acquires actual data (feature-record) described with reference to FIG.17 from the acquired profile atom. Further, at step SP166, the systemcontrolling microcomputer cuts out a code portion (VREQ) correspondingto the table (VDEC TABLE) for criteria regarding video data from theacquired actual data. Further at step SP167, the system controllingmicrocomputer cuts out a code portion (AREQ) corresponding to the table(ADEC TABLE) for criteria regarding audio data from the acquired actualdata similarly.

Then at step SP168, the system controlling microcomputer compares thecode portion (VREQ) regarding video data cut out in such a manner asjust described with the table (VDEC TABLE) for criteria regarding videodata to discriminate whether or not the optical disk apparatus 1 has asufficient capacity for processing of video data. If a discriminationresult that the capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1 is insufficientis obtained by the comparison, then the system controlling microcomputeradvances the processing from step SP168 to step SP169, at which it setsthe QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproducenormally. Thereafter, the system controlling microcomputer returns theprocessing to the original processing procedure though step SP170.

On the other hand, if another discrimination result that the capacity ofthe optical disk apparatus 1 is sufficient is obtained at step SP168,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing tostep SP171. At step SP171, the system controlling microcomputer comparesthe code portion (AREQ) regarding audio data cut out at step SP167 withthe table (ADEC TABLE) for criteria regarding audio data to discriminatewhether or not the capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1 forprocessing of audio data is sufficient. If a discrimination result thatthe capacity of the optical disk apparatus 1 is insufficient is obtainedby the comparison, then the system controlling microcomputer advancesthe processing from step SP171 to step SP169, at which it sets theQuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproduce normally.Thereafter, the system controlling microcomputer returns the processingto the original processing procedure through step SP170.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP171,then the processing advances from step SP171 to step SP172, at which thesystem controlling microcomputer sets the QuickTime movie file as anormally reproducible file. Thereafter, the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to the original processingprocedure through step SP170.

Consequently, with the present embodiment, whether or not normalreproduction is possible is discriminated by a further simple processthan with the fourth embodiment. Thus, advantages similar to thoseachieved by the fourth embodiment can be anticipated.

6. Sixth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, also it is discriminated in the filereproduction possibility discrimination process whether or not aQuickTime movie file has a file structure with which it can bereproduced normally. FIGS. 22 to 24 illustrate a processing procedure inthe discrimination process regarding the file structure of a QuickTimemovie file. It is to be noted that the present embodiment has a sameconfiguration as that in the first to fifth embodiments describedhereinabove except that the processing procedure illustrated in FIGS. 22to 24 is added to the file reproduction possibility discriminationprocess according to the first to fifth embodiments described above.Therefore, detailed description is given below only of the processingprocedure illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 24 while overlapping description ofthe configuration of the other portion is omitted herein to avoidredundancy.

After the processing procedure is started, the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing from step SP201 to step SP202, atwhich it sets variables ALT COUNT, MAXALT, VCOUNT, ACOUND, SELFREF,ALTFLAG and so forth to the value 0 to initialize the variables. Thevariable ALT COUNT [n] is an array variable whose array elements arecount values representative of track numbers of each alternate group(alternate-group). The variable MAXALT is a variable corresponding to amaximum value of the alternate group (alternate-group). The variableVCOUNT is a count value representative of a video track, and thevariable ACOUNT is a count value representative of an audio track.Further, the variable SELFREF is a variable according to a flag whosereference type indicates the self contained type, and the variableALTFLAG is a flag indicative of presence of an alternate track.

Then, the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing stepSP203, at which it acquires the movie resource atom (Movie ResourceAtom: moov atom) of the QuickTime movie file from the QuickTime moviefile. Then at step SP204, the system controlling microcomputerdiscriminates whether or not an extension atom (mvex atom) regarding avideo is set to the movie resource atom. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the processing advances to step SP205, at which thesystem controlling microcomputer discriminates whether or not a fragmentmovie can be reproduced. If an affirmative result is obtained, then thesystem controlling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP206,at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficultto reproduce normally, whereafter it returns the processing to theoriginal processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP204, or ifan affirmative result is obtained at step SP205, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP207, atwhich it acquires the first track atom (Track Atom: trak atom) from themovie resource atom. Then at step SP208, the system controllingmicrocomputer discriminates whether or not a track atom is acquiredsuccessfully. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP209, atwhich it acquires the track header atom (Track Header Atom: tkhd Atom)from the track atom. Then at step SP210, the system controllingmicrocomputer acquires a value of the alternate group (alternate-group)from the track header atom.

Then at step SP211, the system controlling microcomputer increments thearray element ALT COUNT [alternate-group] corresponding to the alternategroup by the value 1. Then at step SP212, the system controllingmicrocomputer discriminates whether or not the value of the alternategroup acquired from the track header atom is higher than the variableMAXALT. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP213, atwhich it rewrites the value of the variable MAXALT with the value of thealternate group, whereafter it advances the processing to step SP214. Onthe other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP212, then theprocessing advances directly from step SP212 to step SP214.

At step SP214, the system controlling microcomputer acquires the mediaatom (Media Atom: mdia atom) from the acquired track atom, and at stepSP215, acquires the media handler reference atom (Media HandlerReference Atom: hdlr atom) from the media atom. Then at step SP216, thesystem controlling microcomputer acquires the component subtype(component-subtype) from the media handler reference atom, and then atstep SP217, discriminates based on the value of the component subtypewhether or not the track is a video track.

If an affirmative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing from step SP217 to step SP218, atwhich it increments the variable VCOUNT which is a count valuerepresentative of a video track by the value 1, whereafter it advancesthe processing to step SP219. On the other hand, if a negative result isobtained at step SP217, then the processing advances from step SP217 tostep SP220, at which it discriminates from the value of the componentsubtype whether or not the track is an audio track.

If an affirmative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing from step SP220 to step SP221, atwhich it increments the variable ACOUNT which is a count valuerepresentative of an audio track by the value 1, and further to stepSP219. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at stepSP220, then the system controlling microcomputer-advances the processingfrom step SP220 to step SP219.

At step SP219, the system controlling microcomputer acquires the mediainformation atom (Media Information Atom: minf atom) from the media atom(Media Atom: mdia atom). Then at step SP223, the system controllingmicrocomputer acquires the data information atom (Data Information Atom:dinf atom) from the media information atom.

Then at step SP224, the system controlling microcomputer acquires thedata reference atom (Data Reference Atom: drsf atom) from the datainformation atom, and then at step SP225, discriminates whether or notthe data reference atom is acquired successfully. If an affirmativeresult is obtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advancesthe processing to step SP226, at which it discriminates whether or notthe self containment flag (self reference flag) indicating that thereference type is the self contained type is set to the value 1 in theacquire data reference atom. If an affirmative result is obtained, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances the processing to stepSP227, at which it sets the variable EXTREF representing that thereference type is the external reference type to the value 1, whereafterit advances the processing to step SP228.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step sP226, thenthe system-controlling microcomputer advances the processing to stepSP229, at which it discriminates whether or not the self reference typeflag (self reference flag) indicating that the reference type is theself containment type is set to the value 0. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP227, at which it sets the variable SELFREFindicating that the reference type is the self containment type to thevalue 1, whereafter it advances the processing to step SP228.

Thus, at step S228 after the system controlling microcomputer sets theconfiguration of the external file to the variable in this manner, itacquires a next data reference atom from the data information atom,whereafter it returns the processing to step SP225. Thus, the systemcontrolling microcomputer discriminates the reference type with regardto all of the data reference atoms set to the data information atom.After the process for all of the data reference atoms is completed,since a negative result is obtained at step SP225, the processing nowadvances from step SP225 to step SP230.

At step SP230, the system controlling microcomputer acquires the sampletable atom (Sample Table Atom: stbl atom) from the media informationatom, and then at step SP231, discriminates whether or not the sampletable atom includes a chunk size atom (Chunk Size Atom: cksz atom). Ifan affirmative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing to step SP232, at which it setsthe variable CKSZ representative of whether or not a chunk size atom ispresent to the value 1. Thereafter, the processing advances to stepSP233. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at stepSP231, then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processingfrom step SP231 to step SP233.

At step S233, the system controlling microcomputer acquires a next trackatom from the movie resource atom. Then, the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing returns to step SP207 (FIG. 22).Consequently, in the present embodiment, information of a file structurewhich is a discrimination material regarding whether or not decoding ispossible is successively acquired in regard to the tracks. Then, if theprocess is completed for all of the tracks, then the processing nowadvances from step SP208 to step SP235 (FIG. 24).

At step S235, the system controlling microcomputer sets a processingvariable I to the value 1. Then at step SP236, the system controllingmicrocomputer discriminates whether or not the variable MAXALT regardinga track successively specified by the processing variable I is lowerthan the value 1. If a negative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP236 tostep SP237, at which it discriminates whether or not the value of thearray element ALT COUNT [I] is higher than the value 1. If a negativeresult is obtained, then since, in this instance, the alternate groupdoes not include an alternate track, the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing from step SP237 to step SP239. Atstep SP239, the system controlling microcomputer increments the variableI to change over the processing object to a next alternate group.Thereafter, the processing returns to step SP236.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP237,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing fromstep SP237 to step SP238, at which it sets the variable ALTFLG to thevalue 1, whereafter it advances the processing to step SP240. On theother hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP236, then thesystem controlling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP236to step SP240. Consequently, in the present embodiment, if an alternatetrack (Alternate track) is present for any track, the variable ALTFLAGis set to the value 1.

At step SP240, the system controlling microcomputer discriminateswhether or not the variable EXTREF has the value 1. If an affirmativeresult is obtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advancesthe processing to step SP241, at which it discriminates whether or notthe external reference file can be processed. If a negative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing from step SP241 to step SP242, at which it sets the QuickTimemovie file as a file which is difficult to reproduce, whereafter itreturns the processing to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP241,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing fromstep SP241 to step SP243. Also when a negative result is obtained atstep SP240, the processing advances to step SP243 similarly. At stepSP243, the system controlling microcomputer discriminates whether or notthe variable SELFREF has the value 1. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP244, at which it discriminates whether or not theself containment type can be processed. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing from step SP244 to step SP242, at which it sets the QuickTimemovie file as a file which is difficult to reproduce normally.Thereafter, the processing returns to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP244,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing fromstep SP244 to step SP245. Also when a negative result is obtained atstep SP243, the processing advances to step SP245 similarly. At stepSP245, the system controlling microcomputer discriminates whether or notthe variable VCOUNT is higher than the value 1. If an affirmative resultis obtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP246, at which, it discriminates whether or notmulti-tracks of a video can be processed. If a negative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing from step SP246 to step SP242, at which it sets the QuickTimemovie file as a file which is difficult to reproduce normally.Thereafter, the processing returns to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP245, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances the processing from stepSP245 to step SP247, at which it discriminates whether or not thevariable ACOUNT is higher than the value 1. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP246, at which it discriminates whether or notmulti-tracks of an audio can be processed. If a negative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing from step SP246 to step SP242, at which it sets the QuickTimemovie file as a file which is difficult to reproduce normally,whereafter the processing returns to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP247, or ifan affirmative result is obtained at step SP246, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP248, atwhich it discriminates whether or not the variable ALTFLAG regarding analternate trak is higher than the value 1. If an affirmative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP249, at which it discriminates whether or not analternate track can be processed. If a negative result is obtained, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances the processing from stepSP249 to step SP242, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a filewhich is difficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processingreturns to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP249,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing fromstep SP249 to step SP250. Also when a negative result is obtained atstep SP248, the processing advances to step SP250 similarly. At stepS250, the system controlling microcomputer discriminates whether or notthe variable CKSZ has the value 1. If an affirmative result is obtained,then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processing tostep SP251, at which it discriminates whether or not a chunk size atomcan be processed. If a negative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP251 tostep SP242, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processing returns tothe original processing procedure.

However, if an affirmative result is obtained at step SP251, or if anegative result is obtained at step SP250, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing to step SP252, at which it setsthe QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproducenormally. Thereafter, the processing returns to the original processingprocedure.

With the embodiment having the configuration described above, since thediscrimination of whether or not normal reproduction is possible isperformed additionally in regard to the file structure of a QuickTimemovie file, only those files which can be reproduced normally can beprovided to the user with a higher degree of accuracy. Therefore, theconvenience in use of the user can be further improved as much.

7. Seventh Embodiment

In the present embodiment, information regarding a file structure usedas a discrimination material for discrimination of whether or not normalreproduction is possible in the sixth embodiment is collected to form anatom such that the information mentioned is disposed collectively on thetop side of a QuickTime movie file.

In particular, in the present embodiment, information (feature)indicative of a type of actual data is set similarly as in the profileatom described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12, and actualdata illustrated in FIG. 25 is registered. It is to be noted that tkstis set to the information (feature) indicative of the type of the actualdata. In the present embodiment, information representative of presenceof a fragment movie atom, presence of a modifying track, presence of analternate track, the external reference type, the self containment type,and presence of a chunk size atom are allocated to the actual data.Consequently, in the present embodiment, an atom regarding the filestructure is formed as seen from FIG. 26 in contrast with FIG. 12. It isto be noted that, in the example illustrated in FIG. 26, it is describedthat an alternative track is present for the track of the track ID=4 anddata is referred to both in the external reference type and the selfcontainment type.

Consequently, upon recording of a QuickTime movie file, the systemcontrolling microcomputer acquires corresponding information frominformation set to each atom and produces an atom regarding the filestructure. Further, the system controlling microcomputer performs a filereproduction possibility discrimination process illustrated in FIG. 27in place of the reproduction possibility discrimination processillustrated in FIGS. 21 to 23 to discriminate whether or not the opticaldisk apparatus 1 is ready for the file structure of the type described.

Referring to FIG. 27, after the processing procedure illustrated isstarted, the system controlling microcomputer advances the processingfrom step SP271 to step SP272, at which it acquires an atom (prft Atom)of a file structure according to FIG. 26. At step SP273, the systemcontrolling microcomputer places the value 1 into the processingvariable N corresponding to a record of the list illustrated in FIG. 26.Further at step SP274, the system controlling microcomputerdiscriminates whether or not the processing variable N is lower than thecount value (feature-record-count) of the list. If an affirmative resultis obtained, then the system controlling microcomputer acquires the list(feature-record) of actual data in the Nth column at step SP275.

Then at step SP276, the system controlling microcomputer discriminateswhether or not information regarding the file structure is set in theacquired list. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer discriminates, at step SP277, whether or notthe presence of a fragment movie atom (frmv) is set in the informationregarding the file structure. If an affirmative result is obtained, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances from step SP277 to stepSP278 (FIG. 28), at which it discriminates whether or not the fragmentmovie can be reproduced. If a negative result is obtained, then thesystem controlling microcomputer advances the processing to step SP279,at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficultto reproduce normally, whereafter the processing returns to the originalprocessing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP277 (FIG.27), then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processingto step SP281, at which it discriminates whether or not the presence ofa flag modifying track (mdtk) is set in the information regarding thefile structure. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP281 tostep SP282 (FIG. 28), at which it discriminates whether or not themodifying track can be processed. If a negative result is obtained, thenthe system controlling microcomputer advances the processing to stepSP279, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processing returns tothe original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP281 (FIG.27), then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processingto step SP283, at which it discriminates whether or not the presence ofan alternate track (altk) is set in the information regarding the filestructure. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP283 tostep SP284 (FIG. 28), at which it is discriminated whether or not thealternate track can be reproduced. Here, if a negative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP279, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as afile which is difficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processingreturns to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP283 (FIG.27), then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processingto step SP285, at which it discriminates whether or not presence of anexternal reference (extk) is set in the information regarding the filestructure. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP285 tostep SP286 (FIG. 28), at which it discriminates whether or not theexternal reference type can be processed. Here, if a negative result isobtained, then the system controlling microcomputer advances theprocessing to step SP279, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as afile which is difficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processingreturns to the original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP285 (FIG.27), then the system controlling microcomputer advances the processingto step SP287, at which it discriminates whether or not the presence ofthe self containment type (sltk) is set in the information regarding thefile structure. If an affirmative result is obtained, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP287 tostep SP288 (FIG. 28), at which it discriminates whether or not the selfcontainment type can be processed. If a negative result is obtained,then the system controlling microcomputer, advances the processing tostep SP279, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processing advances tothe original processing procedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step S287 (FIG.27), then the system controlling microcomputer advances to step SP289,at which it discriminates whether or not presence of a chunk size atom(cksz) is set in the information regarding the file structure. Here, ifan affirmative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing from step SP289 to step SP290(FIG. 28), at which it discriminates whether or not processing ispossible. If a negative result is obtained, then the system controllingmicrocomputer advances the processing to step SP279, at which it setsthe QuickTime movie file as a file which is difficult to reproducenormally, whereafter the processing returns to the original processingprocedure.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP289, or ifa negative result is obtained at step SP276 (FIG. 27), then the systemcontrolling microcomputer increments the processing variable N by thevalue 1 at step SP29 thereby to change over the processing object toinformation regarding a next structure. Thereafter, the processingadvances returns to step SP274.

On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at any of stepsSP278, SP282, SP284, SP286, SP288 and SP290, then the system controllingmicrocomputer returns the processing to step SP291, at which it changesover the processing object to information regarding a next filestructure. Thereafter, the processing returns to step SP274.

Consequently, in the present embodiment, the system controllingmicrocomputer successively discriminates whether or not a record can bereproduced in the order as defined in the list set in informationregarding the file structure. Then, when all records can be reproduced,a negative result is obtained at step SP274. Consequently, theprocessing now advances from step SP274 to step SP293, at which thesystem controlling microcomputer sets the QuickTime movie file as a filewhich can be reproduced normally, whereafter the processing returns tothe original processing procedure.

In the present embodiment, information regarding a file structure usedas a discrimination material for discriminating whether or not normalreproduction is possible is collected to form an atom, and suchinformation is disposed collectively on the top side of the QuickTimemovie file using the atom. Consequently, the processing speed can beimproved when compared with the fifth embodiment thereby to achieveadvantages similar to those of the first embodiment.

8. Eighth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, actual data of a list in the seventhembodiment is encoded to reduce the data amount of a QuickTime moviefile and simplify the process of the system controlling microcomputersimilarly to that by the configuration according to the fourthembodiment in contrast with the third embodiment.

FIG. 29 illustrates contents regarding the encoding. In the presentembodiment, fnsc is set to the column (feature) which represents thetype of actual data described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 26, andencoded actual data illustrated in FIG. 28 is set there. Consequently,the system controlling microcomputer produces a QuickTime movie file soas to be ready for the encoding and discriminates whether or not normalreproduction is possible in accordance with the code. It is to be notedthat, also in this instance, for the actual data (feature-record) towhich the fnsc is set, the track ID is set to 0, and an identifier sameas the major brand of the file compatibility atom is placed in thesubpart ID.

FIG. 30 illustrates a file reproduction possibility discriminationprocess according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment,the processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 30 is executed in place ofthe processing procedure illustrated in FIG. 27.

Referring to FIG. 30, after the processing procedure is started, thesystem controlling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP301to SP302, at which it produces a flag mask for the optical diskapparatus. In the flag mask, the value 0 is set to each code portion ofa bit string of encoded actual data regarding the file structureillustrated in FIG. 27 for which the optical disk apparatus is readywhile the value 1 is set to each code portion for which the optical diskapparatus is not ready.

After the mask is set in this manner, the system controllingmicrocomputer acquires a profile atom at next step SP303 and thenacquires actual data to which fnsc is set from the profile atom at stepSP304. Then at step SP305, the system controlling microcomputerdiscriminates the actual data from AND operation of the actual data andthe flag mask to-detect whether or not the actual data includes an itemfor which the optical disk apparatus is not ready. If an item for whichthe optical disk apparatus is not ready is detected, then the systemcontrolling microcomputer advances the processing from step SP305 tostep SP306, at which it sets the QuickTime movie file as a file which isdifficult to produce normally, whereafter the processing returns to theoriginal processing procedure. On the other hand, if an item for whichthe optical disk apparatus is not ready is not detected, then theprocessing advances now from step SP305 to step SP307, at which thesystem controlling microcomputer sets the QuickTime movie file as a filewhich is difficult to reproduce normally, whereafter the processingreturns to the original processing procedure.

In the present embodiment, since information regarding a file structureis encoded, the data amount of a QuickTime movie file can be reduced andthe process of the system controlling microcomputer can be simplified,and advantages similar to those of the seventh embodiment can beanticipated.

9. Ninth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, an index file of files recorded on an opticaldisk is recorded on the optical disk. It is to be noted that the presentembodiment is configured similarly to the embodiments describedhereinabove except that it is different in configuration in regard tothe index file. Therefore, the present embodiment is described suitablyin connection with the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

The index file is formed from a series of entries in the form of blocksof extract information extracted from files recorded on an optical disk2. Thus, the index file can be used to select a desired file simply andwith certainty from among a large number of files recorded on theoptical disk 2 based on the extract information.

The index file has a hierarchical structure formed from atoms similar tothose of a QuickTime movie file so that resources relating to fileproduction and processing can be utilized effectively making use of thefile producer 15 and the file decoder 16.

In particular, the index file is formed from an index data atom which isa group data of extract information and an index atom which is a groupof management data for managing the data group as seen in FIG. 31. Theindex data atom includes actual data of a disk title, actual data ofextract information of the files and so forth allocated as chunksthereto. Meanwhile, management information of the actual data allocatedto the index data atom is allocated to the index atom.

The extract information is information extracted partly from managementobject files which introduce contents of the management object files inthe index file. Therefore, although the extract information variesdepending upon the types of the management object files, where themanagement object files are QuickTime movie files of video data andaudio data as in the present embodiment, three kinds of data, that is,text data, thumbnail picture data and intro data corresponding toproperty data are applied to the extract data.

The index data atom manages extract information of each managementobject file with an entry which includes three kinds of data, that is,text data, thumbnail picture data and intro data in combination withrespect to a property corresponding to the management object file. It isto be noted that, in the top entry #1, extract information of the disktitle is allocated in place of a management object file. Further, in theindex data atom, property data, text data, thumbnail data and intro dataare set to chunks and allocated thereto.

The property data represents a property of the disk title or amanagement object file, and extract information in the form of binarydata set to the disk title or a management object file is allocatedtogether with management information of the entry. It is to be notedthat the property data is provided without fail even where thesucceeding text, thumbnail picture and intro data are not providedbecause the type of the management object file is different.

The text data includes data representative of a character string of thedisk title or the title of a management object file. The thumbnailpicture data is formed from data of a still picture representative ofthe disk title or contents of the management object file, and, forexample, the top picture of the management object file is allocated tothe thumbnail picture of the management object file. In contrast, to thethumbnail picture of the disk title, a thumbnail picture, for example,of a specific entry of a management object file is allocated inaccordance with selection of the user. It is to be noted that thethumbnail picture of each management object file may otherwise be set byselection of the user.

The intro data is audio data for a short period of time representativeof contents of a management object file. To the intro data of amanagement object file, audio data for several seconds, typically for 5seconds, for example, after reproduction of a corresponding file isstarted is allocated. In contrast, to the intro data of the disk title,intro data of a specific entry of, for example, each management objectfile is allocated by selection of the user. It is to be noted that alsothe intro data of a management object file may otherwise be set byselection of the user.

The index atom includes track atoms for property, text, thumbnailpicture and intro data corresponding to the property, text, thumbnailpicture and intro data of the index data atom, respectively, and a movieheader atom which supervises the track atoms. To the track atoms,recording position information of entries regarding correspondingproperty, text, thumbnail picture and intro data are set.

Thus, in the present embodiment, for example, titles, thumbnail picturesor the like are displayed in a table display and provided to the user orintro data are successively reproduced and provided to the user so thatthe user can simply select a desired file. Further, the file selected inthis manner is reproduced in accordance with setting of a correspondingproperty and provided to the user.

In the present embodiment, information regarding decoding andinformation regarding a file structure according to the embodimentsdescribed hereinabove are set to actual data of the property.Consequently, in the present embodiment, even if each QuickTime moviefile is not reproduced every time, whether or not a QuickTime movie filecan be reproduced normally can be detected in a shorter period of time.

Meanwhile, for example, a computer may record a QuickTime movie file onan optical disk 2. In this instance, the QuickTime movie file to berecorded by the computer may have set thereto such information regardingdecoding and information regarding a file structure according to thethird to eight embodiments as described above, or such information maynot be set to the QuickTime movie file. In such instances, managementinformation relating to a file management system and an index file arecompared with each other. Then, where the QuickTime movie file isregistered in the index file, the information regarding decoding andinformation regarding a file structure registered in the index file areused to discriminate whether or not the QuickTime movie file can bereproduced normally. However, where the QuickTime movie file is notregistered in the index file, a process similar to that used in thepresent embodiment described above is used to discriminate whether ornot the QuickTime movie file can be reproduced normally.

In response to an instruction of the user or during free time,information regarding decoding and information regarding a filestructure of the QuickTime movie file which is not registered in theindex file are registered into the index file.

According to the present embodiment, when an index file of filesrecorded on a recording medium is produced from a series of entries inthe form of blocks of extract information extracted from and coordinatedwith the files recorded on the recording medium and is recorded on therecording medium, information regarding decoding and informationregarding a file structure are set to the index file. Consequently, adesired file can be selected simply and rapidly, and advantages similarto those of the embodiments described hereinabove can be anticipated.

10. Tenth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, all of files which belongs to a directorydesignated by the user are displayed in place of a selective tabledisplay of those files which can be reproduced normally according to theembodiments described hereinabove, and it is displayed by a userinterface in the display whether or not each of the files can bereproduced normally. On the other hand, selection by the user of a filewhich cannot be reproduced normally in this manner is not accepted.

Also where those files which can be decoded normally and those fileswhich are difficult to decode normally are displayed distinctly fromeach other as in the present embodiment thereby to display filesrecorded on a recording medium in a table display such that only thosefiles which can be decoded normally can be selected, similar advantagesto those achieved by the embodiments described hereinabove can beachieved.

11. Other Embodiments

It is to be noted that, in the embodiments described above, the presentinvention is applied to an optical disk apparatus. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this but can be applied widely whereinformation is recorded on various recording media such as a hard diskand a memory card.

Further, in the embodiments described above, a QuickTime movie file isrecorded on an optical disk. However, the present invention is notlimited to this but can be applied widely where files are recorded invarious hierarchical structures and also where video data and audio datain the form of compressed data are recorded.

Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, an encoder and adecoder are integrated with each other. However, the present inventionis not limited to this but can be applied widely where an encoder and/ora decoder are implemented by a process of software and also where anencoder and/or a decoder are provided in an external apparatus fromwhich video data and audio data in the form of compressed data areinputted so as to be recorded.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. An information providing apparatus comprising: adata providing unit configured to provide data for a presentation ofmedia content; wherein the data has a hierarchical structure including aplurality of hierarchies that includes, in a higher hierarchy, a bitrate of the media content to be presented and identification for themedia content, and the data includes, in a lower hierarchy, a timescaleof the media content.
 16. The information providing apparatus accordingto claim 15, wherein the data further includes, in the higher hierarchy:frame rate of the media content, and sampling frequency of the mediacontent.
 17. An information providing method comprising: providing datafor a presentation of media content; wherein the data has a hierarchicalstructure including a plurality of hierarchies that includes, in ahigher hierarchy, a bit rate of the media content to be presented andidentification for the media content, and the data includes, in a lowerhierarchy, a timescale of the media content.
 18. The informationproviding method according to claim 17, wherein the data furtherincludes, in the higher hierarchy: flame rate of the media content, andsampling frequency of the media content.